A STATEMENT.

Reasons why Local Union No. 242 offers amendments to the constitution for referendum vote and dissolution of the Building Trades department.

To the Membership:

Having complied with the general laws of our Brotherhood under which changes in our constitution may be made, Local Union No. 242 desires to say a few words in support of its position, knowing that only through the columns of the Journal can we reach the rank and file.

Proposition No. 1. Amendment to Sec. 199, doing away with Labor Day (first Monday in September) as the opening day of the convention, we believe requires little or no argument. It is not fair or just to ask an active member to leave his home city on Labor Day, the national holiday we all enjoy to celebrate; much more unjust it seems to ask a thousand members representing that number of local unions to leave their home cities. Adding thereto, we say September is an extremely hot month in any section of the country. It is a matter of record that it is almost impossible to hold indoor meetings, particularly where hundreds of delegates are in attendance. Therefore a change from the first Monday in September to the third Monday in October appeals strongly to us as a decidedly better and far more convenient day.

Proposition No. 2. Also amendment to Sec. 199 to elect the general organizers. Who will or who can logically or honestly argue against this change? It means to do away absolutely with favoritism and the "assumed" right and power of appointment. and instead to elect our general organizers the same as we elect our General President, Secretary and Vice-Presidents. Why, may we ask, should the organizers be exempt? Our understanding of the word Brotherhood is that we are all equal, that no special privileges or grants should be given to any one member over another. The Brotherhood spends annually over $25,000 for salaried organizers, yet the membership hasn't a word to say as to who shall occupy such important positions.

Under the present system the organizer may be thoroughly competent, energetic and faithful. His untiring work and honest efforts may be appreciated by every local in the territory to which he is assigned. Yet he may lose his position, be removed, discharged or disgraced simply upon the pure "assumption" of right, power or authority of a vice-president to demand his discharge or as the politicians say, his "scalp;" for,

or without reason, hearing, charges or complaints, all of which is done without our knowledge, much less our consent. And the wronged member nor the membership has no redress, appeal or standing, nor can he or the rank and file demand a trial or even a hearing constitutionally. And this is what is called Brotherhood!

Propositions 3, 4 and 5. They are amendments to Sections 200 and 203, changing somewhat our referendum system. Local Union 242 believes that little explanation is needed, but in support of our contention, say very guardedly, and with due respect for the referendum system, that "our system" is indeed a joke, a farce and a burlesque, in fact ridiculous.

Not only that! It invites fraud and political "padding" and stuffing by politicians and office holders who have the time and opportunity to travel about the country at the expense of the membership to make deals themselves, or direct others to make deals, urging a large number of candidates to enter the race for official positions or delegateships, thereby splitting the vote, so that an incompetent, worthless and even most unpopular candidate can be elected or succeed himself in office with comparatively a few votes to his credit, due to the multiplicity of candidates.

Under our system a thousand different candidates can be nominated and the General Secretary would be compelled to place that number of names on the ballot, and what is more, each candidate could have himself nominated for every office from General President to the last Vice-Presidency, including delegate to conventions in which we have representation.

In fact, the records prove that members allowed themselves to be nominated for more than one position and nominated by only one local union. Absurd, but legal and constitutional.

Closing of the ballot. Under our laws the ballot box once opened can be kept open for days, in fact, need never be closed and kept open indefinitely, so long as the votes reach the national office on time. It certainly invites questionable practices and should be stopped. There is no provision for closing in our constitution.

Proposition No. 5. It deals with Sec. 211, and means the abolition of a system which is not only bad but positively unjust to every candidate and voter except members of the General Executive board. It offers opportunities to the General Executive Board to control the counting of ballots by controlling the election board. The

substitute offered may not be exactly what we need, but it is at least a step in the right direction and a move to stop corruption or attempts to debauch our franchise.

Proposition No. 6. This Amendment is offered to secure the publication of organizers' reports in our Journal. Nowhere can any one find a similarity of conditions. with reference to our general organizers, except it be the American Federation of Labor. We hold that a synopsis of their weekly statements or reports-at least the most important-should appear monthly in our official journal, so that the membership might fully familiarize themselves with the work done. The general organizers should be under the direct supervision of the General President and General SecretaryTreasurer. The general organizers should attend to the organizing work for which they are selected and for which they are paid, and should not be placed at the disposal of the Vice-Presidents.

Building Trades Department.

The Building Trades department should be dissolved. The Building Trades department is a fraud and an outrageous imposition on our membership. Its chief function has been and is today, to furnish a nice, easy, fat, soft berth with a good salary to a General President and a General Secretary.

To be affiliated with this fraud and its various predecessors and aliases, traveling under various names and titles, during the past few years, has cost our Brotherhood over $20,000 (twenty thousand dollars), and not-a-thing-accomplished, which the local trades have not been able to accomplish themselves. Instead of a benefit it has actually been a detriment and a blight to the National Trades Union movement.

Instead of improving the trade conditions and relationship between the national organizations, it has actually widened the breach, engendered bitter feeling, rivalry, animosity and hatred, which years of good generalship and devotion alone can wipe out, perhaps.

It has fostered, aided and abetted jurisdiction disputes, which has had a demoralizing effect; created distrust and lack of confidence, actual dissolution and disintegration is predicted not from the outside, not from employers united to destroy us, but through lack of judgment, ability, and generalship of officials who are personally and selfishly interested in their own particular craft protection to the detriment of the whole movement.

There is not a single case on record where the Building Trades department ac

tually tried and succeeded in improving the conditions of the organized workers in the building industry nationally, or where they have made an honest and successful attempt to bring the trades into closer alliance.

And for this national blunder and farce; this constant warfare, ill feeling, this bitterness and added tension brought about by jurisdiction disputes which it has actually fostered, and which it has aided, favoring one building trade national union to the detriment of another, we the Brotherhood of Painters, innocent parties, have paid the big sum of $20,000.00 so that the destruction might go on whilst we were furnishing the sinews of war, the extermination of trades with whom we were and are on friendly terms, and who had benefited us, and who are friendly to us now.

To describe, recite or actually portray the deplorable history of this pathetic failure would require a large amount of space and would not result in much benefit. It is a sad case, therefore the least said perhaps the better. Local Union No. 242 believes we should end our connection with it at once. By order of Local Union No. 242. WM. H. MEARS, ELLSWORTH AVERY,

S. WISHART,

JACOB TAZELAAR, Sec.. Com,

PRESIDENT GOMPER'S OPINION

President Gompers discusses the proposed withdrawal of the Brotherhood from the Building Trades Dept., of the A. F. of L.

Several labor men throughout the country have sent me copies of a circular which has recently been issued by a local union of your Brotherhood. A similar copy was received here during the recent meeting of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor. In effect, the circular asks locals of the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America to second a proposition to withdraw from the Building Trades Department of the A. F. of L.

Speaking candidly, not only did the circular astonish me, but it astonished every member of the Executive Council, that the members of a local union should suggest or propose the withdrawal of your Brotherhood from the Building Trades Department.

You know that the Department was created during the Norfolk convention of the A. F. of L. in 1907 at the insistent demand of the representatives of the Building Trades Unions at that convention. There

was considerable discussion upon the subject and its institution was finally endorsed by a unanimous vote of the entire convention.

Of course I grant you that the Department is not perfect. The American Federation of Labor is not perfect. I believe that none will dispute the fact that your Brotherhood is not perfect. Being institutions of men of flesh and blood, with all their strength, they also have their weaknesses and may at a time fall into error, but that the local unions, that your Brotherhood, that the Department, and that the American Federation of Labor have rendered invaluable and incalculable service to the cause of our fellow working men, no one of honest purpose and in his right mind can dispute.

I know the constituent parts of the Building Trades Department. I know its make-up, and comparing one organization with another represented in the Department, I am quite sure that there is not one that holds a more conspicuous and influential position in the Department than does the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America. Yet with that power and influence, a local union seriously suggests and proposes that it shall withdraw from the Building Trades Department.

The Constitution of the American Federation of Labor provides that the unions of the building trade to be and remain affiliated to the American Federation of Labor must also be part of and affiliated with the Building Trades department. The affiliation with the one is dependent upon the other and I am inclined to the opinion that if the membership, the great rank and file of your splendid Brotherhood, once understands the proposition is an attempt to withdraw from not only the Department, but from the American Federation of Labor and that it means isolation, with all that that implies, they will treat such a suggestion and proposition in the manner it deserves.

Now more than ever, is the unity, solidarity and federation of the working people of our country more essential than at any time in the history of the labor movement. I feel confident that the officers and the members of your Brotherhood will do their duty in the premises to see to it that the attempt to sever the Brotherhood from the general labor movement will be defeated, as it ought to be defeated.

If it is right for the Brotherhood to withdraw from the Department it would be right and justifiable for every other organization in the building trade to leave the Department, If that reasoning is right,

then the logical assumption is that the local unions would be justified in leaving your Brotherhood and, following it still further, if that is right, it would be right and justifiable for the individual members of the locals of your Brotherhood to withdraw from the organization and act in an isolated and a so-called independent position, an independence which would mean longer hours and lower wages and the imposition of conditions from which, through the organized efforts of your fellow craftsmen you have been able to eliminate from your trade for these many years.

Having but one interest in view, that of the protection and advancement of my fellow workers of all trades, crafts and callings, I deem it my duty to address this letter to you. With best wishes, I am, fraternally yours,

SAML. GOMPERS, President. American Federation of Labor.

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

White Plains, N. Y., June 28, 1912. Mr. J. C. Skemp, G. S.-T., Lafayette, Ind.

Dear Sir and Brother: Knowing that you are ever anxious that the members should freely express their views on matters of general interest, I take the liberty of asking for space in the July "Painter and Decorator."

I have noted with interest the various amendments submitted, and think that two at least, submitted by L. U. 242, of Orange, N. J., should be given careful attention, namely that proposing to reduce the number of organizers to six and the proposal to vote on withdrawal from the Building Trades Department of the A. F. of L.

I have noticed that we have at the present ten or eleven organizers on the road. To reduce that number to six would certainly hamper our General Office and leave much necessary work undone, and no matter how much extra service of organizers was needed this proposed amendment would prevent our General President from appointing a man, even in an emergency. The framers of the amendment undoubtedly meant well but should the membership fail to defeat it, it will certainly be a step backward. I doubt if a well established business house would reduce its working force while there was any business in sight, and there is much work to be done if we are to maintain a live organization. The amendment is ill-advised.

The membership of our organization are the stockholders in this Brotherhood and they select their board of directors. Is it possible that we can't trust our directors to

connection with the A. F. of L. and isolating the Brotherhood from the rest of the Labor movement. I think a large percentage of our members are not alone "Union Painters" but also "Union Men" and believe in Unionism.

Should the Brotherhood draw away from all other organizations of labor and go it alone how long would it be before another painters' union would be organized and affiliated with the A. F. of L.? And many of our members would welcome such an organization rather than to live in isolation. L. U. 250, White Plains, N. Y. D. F. AUSTIN.

MICHIGAN.

Ann Arbor 514-Sec'y, Melville Sutfin, 1215 E. Ann st. Harbor Springs 599-R. S., L. R. Brush.

MISSOURI. Excelsior Springs 320-R. S., S. E. Morse, Armour Place.

Kansas City 820-Sec'y, Wm. H. Cox, 2101 E. 15th st. Kansas City 365-R. S., H. H. Harnish, 3311 E. 20th st. Louisiana 222-R. S., Frank Tilton, 1021 Iowa st.

NEW HAMPSHIRE. Nashua 892-R. S., Nelson G. Lawrence, 26 Mulberry st. NEW JERSEY. Lakewood 70-Sec'y, John R. Taylor, 508 River st. Madison 819-R. S., Irving W. Tunis, Rosedale ave. Paterson 213-R. S., Jas. W. Collins, 78 Pennington st. Westfield 20-F. S., Henry Mobious, 30 Grant ave.

NEW MEXICO. Artesia 719-R. S., James Ahl.

NEW YORK.

F. S.,

Dunkirk 160-R. S., Neal Cudney, 209 Front st. George E. Fulston, 211 Swan st. Jamaica, L. I., 1035-R. S., Wm. Warren, 45 Norris ave. Mt. Kisco 131-R. S., Wm. Stokes. F. S., Wm. Klinehart. Meets second and fourth Monday, Carpenters' Union Hall, Main st.

Olean 415-R. S., Jesse Sheldon, 1011⁄2 S. 3rd st. Watervliet 511-R. S., T. W. Mahoney (pro tem.), 1927 7th ave.

OHIO. Portsmouth 555-R. S., C. H. Davidson, 718 John st. OKLAHOMA.

Enid 915-F. S., J. T. Oakley, 128 E. Broadway. Oklahoma City 807-F. S., F. C. Warren, Box 23, Capitol Hill, Okla.

OREGON.

Portland 10-R. S., Bert Bigelow, 1700 Hurst st. Portland 955-R. S., Ed. Hooper, 95% Russell st. F. S., Harry Shute, 91 Knott st. Meets every Monday at Labor Temple, 270 Alder st.

Local Union

P. C. Tax,

Reinstatement &
Initiation Fees

Supplies

33

7 72.20

8

10 250.10 11 30.00

12

73.60
9.60

13

14

10.00

15

25.60

16

22.90

17 34.60

18 13.60 4.50 96

405.70

19 20. 21

97 9.60 1.70 98 24.90 2.25 99 23.60

8.30

81.60 27 154.50

18.10

28.60

30

35.40

31 131.70

50

22.70

25.50

61 129.10

66 28.60

70

7.75 106
107
2.00 108

109
.50 110

1.00 111

3.00

112
113

45.90

204.90 2.00 115 180.20

23.70 1.25 116 3.90

29.50

40

12.10

35.60

42 158.10
62.10
53.50
16.20

125.40
109.90
91.60
91.30

192.70
435.10
24.90 5.00 132
49.30 2.50 133 14.20

58.20

134 12.60 7.75 135 41.50 6.00 136

59.40 17.00 5.20 23.50 1.80 137 95.80 68.40 2.50 138 62.30 139 38.30 38.70 140 6.50 31.60 13.00 142 16.90 38.90 143 8.60 144 14.90 50.00 5.85 145 15.90 9.70 .70 146 5.30 3.00 1.50 147 379.10 15.20 148 12.60 35.80

46.20

6.00 36.40

149 4.90 150 123.00 151 1.50 152 7.50 50 153 19.90

76 107.40

1.60

77 50.70 78 41.00 79 239.40

8.00 80 47.60 21.00 22.50 18.20

7.50 5.00

2.50 86 13.10 9.50 2.50 88 30.10

5.00 87

2.00 89 66.70

90 108.70 91 48.80 93 5.40 95 13.00 6.30

9.60

84

118 119

117 21.60 75.50 24.50 7.50 120 21.20 7.50, 121 51.00 3.25 122 24.50

123 34.10

125 12.90 126 20.20

127 269.60

Local Union

Reinstatement &
P. C. Tax,

Initiation Fees

128 25.70 129 22.70 130 62.50

7.50 154 4.75 155 8.00 156

3.05 157

158

8.60 32.60

26.70

36.70

11.10

19.50

15.90

1.25 190

14.50 191

160.30

18.40

9.40

182 183 184 309.30

16.40

16.30 425.15 187 86.30 188 10.20 189 16.40 62.40 138.80

192 26.30

Supplies

.50 205
207

204 13.80
33.20
17.60

8.20

.75 209 12.00 210 3.00 212 4.95 213 68.30 .60 214 10.50 215 28.50 2.50 216 9.00 2.50 217 10.80 218 38.00 219 17.00 221 23.60 223 20.20 224 18.20

2.25 226

227 22.00 229 14.20 231 232 13.20 233 4.50 2.95 234 11.20 235 12.00 2.50 236 10.30

237

238 4.10 239 9.25 240

241

11.10

25.00

11.50

39.30

37.10

27.80

13.20 249 39.00 250 33.70 47.50 7.50 251 8.80 2.10 5.75 252 41.50 253 56.30 254 16.70 1.00 255 10.40 257 126.20 4.00 258 42.10

21.70 21.60

25.10 20.40 17.90

259

2.40

10.40

95.30

4.80 2.70 5.40 77.60

Local Union

Reinstatement &
P. C. Tax,

Initiation Fees

Supplies

242

243

.50 244

8.75 245

246 1.50 247 248

333 84.50 334 4.50 337 7.00 339 15.60 5.00 341 112.90 342 5.50 844 6.50 .30 345 138.50

266 4.80

267

19.50 8.50 346 268 11.70

14.30 348 3.60 2.50 349 183.20 350

269

5.00 270 8.90

271 4.50

351 7.20

5.00 193 25.30

272

12.80

353 4.50

355

3.75 356

2.50 194 560.90
273 61.70
6.00 195 143.60 15.00 274
3.00 196 21.10
275 300.70
197 28.10 3.75 277 43.60
1.00 199 58.50
278 3.00
200 20.90 22.50 280
201 53.90
281
202 6.95
282
2.25 283
8.00 284

3.30

9.10 29.40 357 6.00 358 5.50 360 4.80 1.00 362 7.80 363 21.90 364 13.80 366 8.00 367 11.10 5.30 368 130.80 370 1.00 372 3.50 373 375 1.00 376 377 5.00 378

14.00
285 6.90
286 45.20
287

288 28.70
289 11.40
9.90

15.00

13.10

9.30

5.10

36.80

380 49.50 381 16.40 382 11.30

13.20

72.80 3.50, 383 4.20

8.90
5.40

1.00 384 16.70
6.20 385
386
2.50 387
1.00 388
3.25 390
391 25.80
2.50 392 22.30
2.95 393
4.20
3.50 394 2.70
.50 395
1

63.00

25.80

22.00

25.70

71.70

103.00

12.40

4.50

4.20

260

261

6.50 262 .50 263 264 7.75 265

290

10.55 291

.50 292

293

294

295

69.80

27.60

14.50 21.40

296 297 15.50 298 7.60 1.80 299 10.20 14.95 300 93.30 2.25 301 7.80 .50 302 38.20 2.80 303 34.50 304 15.70 1.25 305 3.60 5.00 307 3.70 308

34.40 33.40

309

310

1.00 311 3.00 312

9.50 313

2.70

314

20.70

316

25.50

317

6.90

318

49.80 3.30

4.50 319

4.35 321

15.00

5.50 322 15.00 323 3.80 4.95 324 31.40 325 4.80 .40 326 19.40 327 29.80 5.45 328 15.40 .50 329 4.50 9.20

331
332

6.70

15.40 18.50 24.50

1.00 396 19.30

397 9.00 398 14.20 7.25 1.00 399 13.40 3.00 11.80

400

401

18.20

403 4.50 404 14.10 1.00 405 14.40 407 14.70 408

409 65.60
410 1.80
411

5.20

412

4.70

9.60

11.80

16.60

3.60 413 4.00 414 415 2.50 416 3.40 417 10.20 1.90 418 4.80 2.50 419 11.10 420 28.40 2.00 421 8.75 2.30 422 5.40 9.00 423 15.10 1.00 424 30.35 425 7.50 426 142.30 427 10.70 13.70

1.50

428 430 1.00 431 17.10 432 5.40 2.50 433 4.80 21.52 434 6.20 19.05

435

14.50

24.60
11.70